Addison County man accused of harassing Migrant Justice members

An Addison County man has been accused of harassing members of Migrant Justice, a Vermont-based organization that advocates for farmworkers and immigrant rights.

Chase Atkins, 24, of Addison was issued a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court in Middlebury in November, Vermont State Police said. He is expected to be charged with disturbing the peace by using a telephone or electronic communications with a hate crime enhancement.

The accusations stem from incidents that occurred in late August. Police say Atkins was visiting a farm on Vermont 22A in Addison at the time, and during his visit, he let the air out of the tires of a Migrant Justice member's car. The tires were later re-inflated, and no damage was caused.

Police say that several days later, Atkins left a voicemail for Migrant Justice in which he told them not to return to the farms. State police said the message "would have left a reasonable person to feel threatened and intimidated."

Read more: https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2019/09/27/vermont-state-police-addison-man-harassed-migrant-justice-members/3784701002/